Gotthard Holdermann

Gotthard Holdermann (17 October 1895-2 July 1945) was the Gauleiter of Hajnowka in Poland under Nazi Germany.

Biography
Gotthard Holdermann was born on 17 October 1895 in Teltow-Flaeming in the German Empire, and he enlisted in the Prussian Army in 1913. He fought in World War I in the war with France, and was awarded the Wound Badge in the Battle of Champagne in 1916. Holdermann was also awarded the Iron Cross First Class for a later battle at Messines Ridge in 1917. After the war, he became a member of the Nazi Party in 1920 and became a lawyer affiliated with the party. During World War II he was made the Gauleiter of Hajnowka once it was conquered from the Soviet Union in 1941, and Holdermann was responsible for the extermination of Jews, Poles, Slavs, and other undesirable groups. Holdermann was captured by the Soviet Union KGB on 4 June 1945 while attempting to flee from his hideout in N'Djamena (Chad) to Libreville (Gabon). On 2 July, Holdermann was executed by firing squad.